Mobile persistent augmented-reality experiences

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes determining, using one or more location sensors of a computing device, an approximate location of the computing device, identifying a content object located within a threshold distance of the approximate location, wherein an augmented-reality map associates the content object with a stored model of a real-world object and specifies a location of the content object on or relative to the stored model of the real-world object, obtaining an image from a camera of the device, identifying, in the image, a target real-world object that matches the stored model of the real-world object, determining a content object location based on a location of the target real-world object and the location of the content object on or relative to the model of the real-world object, and displaying the content object at the content object location.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 by a computing device, determining, using one or more location sensors of the computing device, an approximate location of the computing device; 
 by the computing device, accessing an augmented-reality map associated with a geographic area that comprises the approximate location of the computing device, wherein the augmented-reality map specifies that the geographic area contains one or more predetermined regions defined by corresponding three-dimensional models; 
 by the computing device, identifying, using the augmented-reality map, a real-world object located in at least one of the predetermined regions; 
 by the computing device, identifying, using the augmented-reality map, a content object associated with the real-world object, wherein the augmented-reality map associates the content object with a stored model of the real-world object and a stored model of the content object, and specifies a location of the stored model of the content object relative to the stored model of the real-world object; 
 by the computing device, obtaining an image from a camera of the computing device; 
 by the computing device, identifying, in the image, a target real-world object that matches the stored model of the real-world object; 
 by the computing device, determining, using a tracking algorithm, a location of the real-world object relative to the computing device; 
 by the computing device, determining a content object location based on the location of the target real-world object relative to the computing device and the location of the stored model of the content object relative to the stored model of the real-world object; and 
 by the computing device, displaying the content object at the content object location. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the augmented-reality map associates the one or more content objects with coordinates of locations within the one or more predetermined regions defined by corresponding three-dimensional models. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined regions comprise one or more rooms in one or more buildings. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying, using the augmented-reality map, a content object associated with the real-world object comprises searching the augmented-reality map for one or more content objects having associated locations within a threshold distance of the approximate location,
 wherein the threshold distance is associated with the content object. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the threshold distance is based on an accuracy level of the location sensors. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target real-world object matches the stored model of the real-world object when a plurality of target feature points on the target real-world object correspond to a plurality of model feature points associated with the stored model of the real-world object. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the target feature points correspond to the model feature points when the target feature points represent the same shape as the model feature points. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein identifying, in the image, a target real-world object that matches the model of the real-world object comprises:
 identifying candidate feature points in the image, wherein the candidate feature points are on edges or corners in the image; 
 identifying a plurality of the candidate feature points that correspond to the model feature points, wherein the target feature points on the target real-world object comprise the identified plurality of the candidate feature points. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the content object comprises rendering the content object based on the stored model of the content object. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein displaying the content object comprises superimposing the rendering of the content object over the image at a location in the image based on the location of the target real-world object. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the stored model of the content object associated with the content object is a location in three-dimensional space and is on a surface of the stored model of the real-world object. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the content object location comprises:
 by the computing device, retrieving, from the augmented-reality map, a content object offset associated with the content object and further associated with the stored model of the real-world object, 
 wherein the content object offset specifies the location of the content object relative to the stored model of the real-world object, and the content object location is based on a sum of the location of the target real-world object and the content object offset. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the content object offset comprises a three-dimensional vector, and the method further comprises:
 by the computing device, transforming the three-dimensional vector based on an orientation of the target real-world object. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content object comprises text content, image content, animation content, video content, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 by the computing device, receiving a new content object and a name that identifies a real-world object; and 
 by the computing device, storing the new content object in the augmented-reality map in association with a stored model of the real-world object, wherein the stored model of the real-world object is identified based on the name. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the augmented-reality map is stored on a social-networking system server. 
     
     
       17. A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
 determine, using one or more location sensors of a computing device, an approximate location of the computing device; 
 access an augmented-reality map associated with a geographic area that comprises the approximate location of the computing device, wherein the augmented-reality map specifies that the geographic area contains one or more predetermined regions defined by corresponding three-dimensional models; 
 identify, using the augmented-reality map, a real-world object located in at least one of the predetermined regions; 
 identify, using the augmented-reality map, a content object associated with the real-world object, wherein the augmented-reality map associates the content object with a stored model of the real-world object and a stored model of the content object, and specifies a location of the stored model of the content object relative to the stored model of the real-world object; 
 obtain an image from a camera of the computing device; 
 identify, in the image, a target real-world object that matches the stored model of the real-world object; 
 determine, using a tracking algorithm, a location of the real-world object relative to the computing device; 
 determine a content object location based on the location of the target real-world object relative to the computing device and the location of the stored model of the content object relative to the stored model of the real-world object; and 
 display the content object at the content object location. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the augmented-reality map associates the one or more content objects with coordinates of locations within the one or more predetermined regions defined by corresponding three-dimensional models. 
     
     
       19. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 determine, using one or more location sensors of a computing device, an approximate location of the computing device; 
 access an augmented-reality map associated with a geographic area that comprises the approximate location of the computing device, wherein the augmented-reality map specifies that the geographic area contains one or more predetermined regions defined by corresponding three-dimensional models; 
 identify, using the augmented-reality map, a real-world object located in at least one of the predetermined regions; 
 identify, using the augmented-reality map, a content object associated with the real-world object, wherein the augmented-reality map associates the content object with a stored model of the real-world object and a stored model of the content object, and specifies a location of the stored model of the content object relative to the stored model of the real-world object; 
 obtain an image from a camera of the computing device; 
 identify, in the image, a target real-world object that matches the stored model of the real-world object; 
 determine, using a tracking algorithm, a location of the real-world object relative to the computing device; 
 determine a content object location based on the location of the target real-world object relative to the computing device and the location of the stored model of the content object relative to the stored model of the real-world object; and 
 display the content object at the content object location. 
 
     
     
       20. The media of  claim 19 , wherein the map associates the one or more content objects with coordinates of locations within the one or more predetermined regions defined by corresponding three-dimensional models.